What tactics should we employ to beat Manchester City?

[Curr Avon]

Apart from scoring more goals over 90 - 120 minutes, or the winning penalty in a shoot-out, what are our tactics against one of the world's best teams?

Press, press, and press again? 

Sit in, and hope for the best?

Kick them off the pitch and hope that the officials lose the power of sight?

 

[MarcusX]

Score more than them

[cheese]

Concede less than them.

[Selred]

They struggle against the Lasso special.

Let's create chaos! 

[Unan]

Score more than them or concede less than them

[Coombsy]

Don’t give them too much respect 

get into them and let them know we are not there for the taking 

make Ashton gate rock

Get scotty out site their changing room with his getto blaster pumping out

 

[Marina's Rolls Royce]

Take it to penalties.

We haven't missed one in about 490 days.

[Bristol Oil Services]

Recreate the conditions of Manchester City's FA Cup defeats to Halifax at the Shay in January 1980 (the day we were whipping Derby 6:2) by instructing the Bristol rugby lot to train on it Sunday and Monday and then having a sprinkler "problem" similar to the floodlights v Liverpool '94 only "we can't seem to bloody turn 'em off, Pep" rather than switching them on being the problem. 

[Port Said Red]

We should to direct their coach off at Stroud and get them to take the A46 and then try to get through the Bath Rd*. They will be so late we will be 4-0 up by the time they get on the pitch.

Alternatively, we should at least turn up and get the players to constantly remind them they have a tough game against Newcastle coming up at the weekend 

 

 

 

 

*Yes, I am aware they will probably fly to Bristol Airport.

[bcfc01]

I reckon we should spread out in a bunch and form circle.

It'll knock 'em bandy.

[cidercity1987]

Play like we did in the second half of the last game v them rather than like the first half.

And don't concede stupid goals trying to shepherd the ball out

[BCFCGav]

Press hard and they'll play through us and wreak havoc on our defense, sit in and they'll patiently wear us down and tire us out. 

My plan? Pray.

We're due so much luck. A Nick Pope style red for Ederson in the opening 10 minutes please!

[Super]

Fireworks at 2am outside the Hotel they are staying. It worked for Liverpool midweek....

[Clevedon Red]

Bring back the weasel set piece. 

[Bristol Rob]

Cheat.

I reckon if we offer to pay for the Ref and their assistants to park at the Cricket Club, it could be one of the greatest football bungs of all time. Granted, it might break the budget, but surely it'll be worth it. 

[big dosser]

11 goalkeepers

[Roadrunner]

Get the team to sit through highlights of us v Man u and City  in the recent cup run and show them we have a chance against them.

[1960maaan]

If we play a high press, they are experts at breaking lines.

We sit in, they will pick us off.

We can't out pass them.

We don't have the players to go direct.

We can't man mark their best players, they're all top quality.

We could pack the MF in a 4-5-1 system and hope for a break or some luck.

[cityexile]

Football is about probabilities not certainties, and whatever we do they will be heavy heavy favourites. Hopefully not a stuffing.

Best chance I guess is to play a fairly low block, deny them space and hope they get bored tiki-taki'ing between themselves. We are a team that plays pretty much on the break rather than possession based anyway so that is in our favour. Ability to attack quickly when we do turn it over will be important. Every now and again press them down when they are fart arsing around at the back passing between the gaolie and their back line to keep then honest.

Then hope the big moments go our way. Our chance is small, but not 0%.

[Bannerman]

Run around like headless chickens

Or take away our goal post and net at our end so they got nothing to aim at

[Robbored]

I’m just glad that I’m not involved in coaching at City!

However Nige is very experienced and will hopefully come up with a strategy when facing Man City.

All the players know what tough opponents they’ll be facing, live on Tv and want to impress so Nige won’t have motivate any of them, just saying ‘go out and enjoy it’

The basics are that’s 11 v 11 but Man City’s 11 are superior to our 11 and they should beat us - that said in any cup competition upsets are always possible.

[sh1t_ref_again]

Slip some laxatives into there pre game drinks and hope they take effect by the 2nd half, so we can start the come back

[mozo]

Naturally we have to sit in and absorb pressure to frustrate Man City and put them out of their flow. It's a risky business but we don't have much choice.

If you're going to be mostly defending, you absolutely must have a threat going forward too. My crazy plan is this...

Bell to spearhead the attack. He has one lethal weapon that the Man City defence will struggle with; PACE.

Don't play Bell wide where Walker will keep up with him. Play him central, and hope he can latch onto a clearance (or even a pass, if we can muster a few of those!)

The pace of Bell and the sheer class of Scott, give us a chance to get out and give Man City problems. 

I might be off my nut, but I would also be tempted to play JD left full back and Pring left forward. Print is comfortable going forward but also we would have a defensive balance that side.

 

 

[Curr Avon]

33 minutes ago, Robbored said:

I’m just glad that I’m not involved in coaching at City!

However Nige is very experienced and will hopefully come up with a strategy when facing Man City.

All the players know what tough opponents they’ll be facing, live on Tv and want to impress so Nige won’t have motivate any of them, just saying ‘go out and enjoy it’

The basics are that’s 11 v 11 but Man City’s 11 are superior to our 11 and they should beat us - that said in any cup competition upsets are always possible.

[Pearcy]

They would've played Wednesday and Saturday evening before they play us on Tuesday. They were also away in Germany on Wednesday, plus they're away to Bournemouth on Saturday, plus they are away to us (obviously). That's three away games in six days, plus a trip to Europe and back. They fielded a full strength team on Wednesday and with how tight the Premier League is at the moment I would fully expect them to field a full strength team on Saturday too. Because of this I think they'll field a weakened team on Tuesday (even though their bench is probably good enough to finish top 4 in the Premier League).

My tactic, go and attack them. Take advantage of the fact they might be inexperienced, not been getting many minutes or have tired legs. Use this to our adavntage. Unleash players like Scott, Bell, Sykes on them who are not afreaid to take players on. Have a real go at them. When we beat Man United we did it by showing them no respect and by attacking them. When we played City the last two times we did the same. Lets go toe to toe with them.

[Shelton’s Love Gravy]

Firearms.

[daored]

17 minutes ago, mozo said:

Naturally we have to sit in and absorb pressure to frustrate Man City and put them out of their flow. It's a risky business but we don't have much choice.

If you're going to be mostly defending, you absolutely must have a threat going forward too. My crazy plan is this...

Bell to spearhead the attack. He has one lethal weapon that the Man City defence will struggle with; PACE.

Don't play Bell wide where Walker will keep up with him. Play him central, and hope he can latch onto a clearance (or even a pass, if we can muster a few of those!)

The pace of Bell and the sheer class of Scott, give us a chance to get out and give Man City problems. 

I might be off my nut, but I would also be tempted to play JD left full back and Pring left forward. Print is comfortable going forward but also we would have a defensive balance that side.

 

 

Can’t see him starting Bell personally , think he will go Weinmann, Sykes and Wells as top three. We’re going to have to sit deep at times and Sykes and Tanner have a good understanding on the right, and he’ll go for Weinmann’s experience over Bell on the left. Think we’ll spend a lot of the game as a 4-5-1 but would like to see us start fast and aggressive, like others have said a lot of travelling for Man City this week.

[RoystonFoote'snephew]

We could pray. Seriously let's not get drawn into the Johnson tactics (both father and son) of setting up to counter them but instead try to play our game. We are naturally a counter attack side with quick transition and shouldn't change that. 

[Merrick's Marvels]

3 hours ago, Curr Avon said:

Apart from scoring more goals over 90 - 120 minutes, or the winning penalty in a shoot-out, what are our tactics against one of the world's best teams?

Press, press, and press again? 

Pray, pray and pray again?

1 hour ago, Roadrunner said:

Get the team to sit through highlights of us v Man u and City  in the recent cup run and show them we have a chance against them.

I think that would just highlight how few of our current team would get into the one riding high in the Championship in Jan 2018. 

That team was playing football from another planet compared to this one. When all is done and dusted, I suspect our results in 2023 against Man City, compared to those in 2018, will only tell us what we already know - it's been 5 years of decline.

Nor can we let the effort we put into this cup tie affect our league form in the way it did in 2018. Ordinarily, a glamour home tie, live on the telly, in the 5th round of the FA Cup, is something to be savoured but this season it feels to me like an unnecessary distraction from the vital business at hand. 

And imagine this - Kalvin Phillips strolls through the game with Alex Scott in his back pocket - suggesting our wonderkid ain't all that, sending his value plummeting and thus reducing our summer transfer plans to tatters!

I now await comrade @REDOXO's reply - "That's the spirit!"

So perhaps it will be Alex Scott keeping Kalvin Phillips in his back pocket as he leads the home team to a famous victory.

That's the spirit!  

Edited February 24, 2023 by Merrick's Marvels

[mozo]

27 minutes ago, daored said:

Can’t see him starting Bell personally , think he will go Weinmann, Sykes and Wells as top three. We’re going to have to sit deep at times and Sykes and Tanner have a good understanding on the right, and he’ll go for Weinmann’s experience over Bell on the left. Think we’ll spend a lot of the game as a 4-5-1 but would like to see us start fast and aggressive, like others have said a lot of travelling for Man City this week.

You're probably right. That was my own preference not my prediction!

Wells has made me look daft before and I hope he does again, because... I just don't see what kind of threat Wells poses Man City. He's not quick enough to harm them on the break, and he's not going to score a worldie. His best attribute in my opinion is link up play, which will help us get the ball in the right areas, but often he'll be isolated and bullied, or won't have options to link up with. 

I think we need pace. Fascinated to know what Nige goes with.

[daored]

1 minute ago, mozo said:

You're probably right. That was my own preference not my prediction!

Wells has made me look daft before and I hope he does again, because... I just don't see what kind of threat Wells poses Man City. He's not quick enough to harm them on the break, and he's not going to score a worldie. His best attribute in my opinion is link up play, which will help us get the ball in the right areas, but often he'll be isolated and bullied, or won't have options to link up with. 

I think we need pace. Fascinated to know what Nige goes with.

I agree with you pace is our best option, and second guessing Nige isn’t always easy - who would have thought Bell would have started on Saturday! Tomorrows team selection may give an indication, although would certainly expect the two new lads to start 

[cityexile]

6 minutes ago, daored said:

I agree with you pace is our best option, and second guessing Nige isn’t always easy - who would have thought Bell would have started on Saturday! Tomorrows team selection may give an indication, although would certainly expect the two new lads to start 

Just as an aside, pretty sure the two new lads are both cup tied.

[Merrick's Marvels]

1 minute ago, cityexile said:

Just as an aside, pretty sure the two new lads are both cup tied.

Correct.

Perhaps we could borrow Semenyo for the evening - would be a different game if we still had him. 

[Red-Robbo]

2 hours ago, big dosser said:

11 goalkeepers

 

That's daft.

10 keepers, 1 towering forward.  There's the long-ball winner. 

[Robbored]

1 hour ago, Curr Avon said:

I’m thinking that I should change my username to ‘Captain Obvious’…………….

[Open End Numb Legs]

We must get them out of their comfort zone.

The high press would probably only work for 30 minutes or so, I would go for a line of press at half way, but a high energy press at that, we must disrupt their rhythm.

I would say lots and lots of nice things about them in the media, be extra nice on the day, make them feel that we have no chance, be humble, give them a false sense of security, feel relaxed. But at ko have the players ready to be nasty and aggressive as soon as the game starts. Ball boys, crowd, everyone will need to play their part.

Bell could be a secret weapon, he has something that could be a differentiator with his pace. So, sit back, fight at the half way line and have Scott find the magic pass for Bell to run onto.

 

[REDOXO]

1 hour ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

Pray, pray and pray again?

I think that would just highlight how few of our current team would get into the one riding high in the Championship in Jan 2018. 

That team was playing football from another planet compared to this one. When all is done and dusted, I suspect our results in 2023 against Man City, compared to those in 2018, will only tell us what we already know - it's been 5 years of decline.

Nor can we let the effort we put into this cup tie affect our league form in the way it did in 2018. Ordinarily, a glamour home tie, live on the telly, in the 5th round of the FA Cup, is something to be savoured but this season it feels to me like an unnecessary distraction from the vital business at hand. 

And imagine this - Kalvin Phillips strolls through the game with Alex Scott in his back pocket - suggesting our wonderkid ain't all that, sending his value plummeting and thus reducing our summer transfer plans to tatters!

I now await comrade @REDOXO's reply - "That's the spirit!"

So perhaps it will be Alex Scott keeping Kalvin Phillips in his back pocket as he leads the home team to a famous victory.

That's the spirit!  

I now await comrade @REDOXO's reply - "That's the spirit!" 

So perhaps it will be Alex Scott keeping Kalvin Phillips in his back pocket as he leads the home team to a famous victory.

That's the spirit!   
—————

If we do get a result you are credited with the assist!

In my opinion we will need a little luck and a team that plays counter attacking football which we do!

I would absolutely start Wells and Bell if fit. Sykes is a shoe in and Williams Scott and James if fit. 
 

The back four and goalkeeper pick themselves and I particularly expect Kalas is right up for it. 
 

Bell is as fast as anything in any division, so I expect Walker to have a torrid night and Scott up against DeBruyne and or Grealish will be fun. However I think Cam Pring could have a huge influence on the game. 

[slartibartfast]

4 hours ago, Curr Avon said:

Apart from scoring more goals over 90 - 120 minutes, or the winning penalty in a shoot-out, what are our tactics against one of the world's best teams?

Press, press, and press again? 

Sit in, and hope for the best?

Kick them off the pitch and hope that the officials lose the power of sight?

 

Apart from strategic use of a 12 bore from a grassy Knowle West,, haven't a clue !

Edited February 24, 2023 by slartibartfast

[Glen hump]

They don’t like it up um, get stuck into them ,

[Open End Numb Legs]

I would also add the Mehmeti might offer something different. Prem defences are used to defending a passing game in front if them. Get Mehmeti into a position where he can get to the by line and pull it back.

[REDOXO]

6 minutes ago, Open End Numb Legs said:

I would also add the Mehmeti might offer something different. Prem defences are used to defending a passing game in front if them. Get Mehmeti into a position where he can get to the by line and pull it back.

Against Hull maybe! Is he not cup tied!? Looking at the stats he played for 26 minutes against Walsall in the first round (lost)

Edited February 24, 2023 by REDOXO

[slartibartfast]

1 minute ago, Open End Numb Legs said:

I would also add the Mehmeti might offer something different. Prem defences are used to defending a passing game in front if them. Get Mehmeti into a position where he can get to the by line and pull it back.

Cup tied ?

[johnbytheriver]

kick everything above the grass that moves! except the ball. They don't like it up'em!

[Ska Junkie]

Could we move it at half time though?

Anyone know any brickies?

[brad blit]

Iv not been impressed by Man City recently, and they don’t seem to score as many goals as they did earlier in the season. Pep still can’t work out his favoured formation/players and that’s let Arsenal and Man U in this season. You only have to see with teams like Forest that with some hard work, patience and lots of luck you can get a result. 

Realistically I don’t think we can compete as defensively we don’t have many options, but if we can give them a good game generally il come out happy 

[Abraham Romanovich]

39 minutes ago, brad blit said:

Realistically I don’t think we can compete as defensively we don’t have many options, but if we can give them a good game generally il come out happy 

The one advantage we do have is being at home , so like Man United last night turn off the music 30 minutes before kick-off.

Ashton Gate at its best can be pretty intimidating 

 

 

[Bazooka Joe]

Can't suggest any tactics to beat Man City.

All I know is that if we manage to win, it will be absolute bedlam.

Should an over-exuberant Pearson opt to swing a ball-boy around like Johnson did, and lose grip, that poor kid will fly far.

 

 

 

 

[Open End Numb Legs]

1 hour ago, slartibartfast said:

Cup tied ?

Thanks to those who put me right!

Could Pring do that job? (getting in behind the full back)

[TonyTonyTony]

4 hours ago, Robbored said:

I’m just glad that I’m not involved in coaching at City!

That may well be the only thing you have ever said on here that absolutely everyone agrees with

[Pickle Rick]

6 hours ago, Curr Avon said:

Apart from scoring more goals over 90 - 120 minutes, or the winning penalty in a shoot-out, what are our tactics against one of the world's best teams?

Press, press, and press again? 

Sit in, and hope for the best?

Kick them off the pitch and hope that the officials lose the power of sight?

 

Release a new kit?

Ha, yea, right. If only. Then we’d have a chance.

[W-S-M Seagull]

I've watched a lot of Man City and generally they struggle against teams that play like we do. So we don't really need to change too much. 

We need to be clever with the press as we will just use our energy up. Need to save that energy for the counters which is what Man City struggle with. 

We need a hostile atmosphere and we need to not show them any respect and just get at them. Man City struggle with those things. 

[joe jordans teeth]

1 hour ago, Bazooka Joe said:

Can't suggest any tactics to beat Man City.

All I know is that if we manage to win, it will be absolute bedlam.

Should an over-exuberant Pearson opt to swing a ball-boy around like Johnson did, and lose grip, that poor kid will fly far.

 

 

 

 

Right into kalas I expect ruling him out for the rest of the season 

[Out of his pie crust]

Start well. Every minute they don’t score will be a victory. A huge cheer should go up every minute. 

[steviestevieneville]

7 hours ago, Curr Avon said:

Apart from scoring more goals over 90 - 120 minutes, or the winning penalty in a shoot-out, what are our tactics against one of the world's best teams?

Press, press, and press again? 

Sit in, and hope for the best?

Kick them off the pitch and hope that the officials lose the power of sight?

 

We’re a counter attacking side & they’ll have most of the ball . Won’t have many chances but when we do we have to take them. 

[maxjak]

Planks n' Nails?

[A Horse With No Name]

7 hours ago, Port Said Red said:

We should to direct their coach off at Stroud and get them to take the A46 and then try to get through the Bath Rd*. They will be so late we will be 4-0 up by the time they get on the pitch.

Alternatively, we should at least turn up and get the players to constantly remind them they have a tough game against Newcastle coming up at the weekend 

 

 

 

 

*Yes, I am aware they will probably fly to Bristol Airport.

Who is going to take the restart kick off when we score the first?

[Red Billy]

We will need to fight like Beavers!  

[Major Isewater]

I think it’s important to try and cut off the legs , sorry , supply to Haaland. 
We shouldn’t be in awe of them cause they’re just another bunch of lads kicking a ball around a field. 
Attack. 

[mozo]

13 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

I think it’s important to try and cut off the legs , sorry , supply to Haaland. 
We shouldn’t be in awe of them cause they’re just another bunch of lads kicking a ball around a field. 
Attack. 

Haaland v Vyner? Pah, nothing to worry about...

 

[Lanterne Rouge]

2 minutes ago, mozo said:

Haaland v Vyner? Pah, nothing to worry about...

 

For who?

[mozo]

13 minutes ago, Lanterne Rouge said:

For who?

Ummmm....

[BigTone]

9 hours ago, Curr Avon said:

Apart from scoring more goals over 90 - 120 minutes, or the winning penalty in a shoot-out, what are our tactics against one of the world's best teams?

Press, press, and press again? 

Sit in, and hope for the best?

Kick them off the pitch and hope that the officials lose the power of sight?

 

Take them out on the lash the night before for a pint or ten of Natch

[Lanterne Rouge]

Just now, BigTone said:

Take them out on the lash the night before for a pint or ten of Natch

And then treat them to a pre-match meal of Mr Clarke`s finest cuisine?

[BigTone]

10 minutes ago, Lanterne Rouge said:

And then treat them to a pre-match meal of Mr Clarke`s finest cuisine?

Perfect

[David Brent]

Score more than them 

[mozo]

36 minutes ago, BigTone said:

Take them out on the lash the night before for a pint or ten of Natch

You do realise that unconfirmed numbers of studies have proved that Natch contains all the nutrients and natural hormone boosters to increase performance at literally anything [in your mind]...?!!!

Just now, David Brent said:

Score more than them 

And the winner of the 'most obvious dad joke that has already been made seventeen times' goes to... 

[BigTone]

1 minute ago, mozo said:

You do realise that unconfirmed numbers of studies have proved that Natch contains all the nutrients and natural hormone boosters to increase performance at literally anything [in your mind]...?!!!

And the winner of the 'most obvious dad joke that has already been made seventeen times' goes to... 

I know after 10 pints I feel I am more attractive to those of the opposite sex.

[Show Me The Money!]

Maybe we could hire this

 

 

 

[Merrick's Marvels]

2 hours ago, steviestevieneville said:

We’re a counter attacking side & they’ll have most of the ball . Won’t have many chances but when we do we have to take them. 

Indeed we are. Because we struggle to keep possession against Luton, Swansea, Millwall etc.

Which begs the question, are we capable of retaining the ball at all against one of the best teams in the world? As far as I can tell, we won't have anything to counter attack with unless several of our lot have the game of their lives, far beyond anything we've seen them produce so far. 

Who knows, they may surprise us yet but I can see it being a bit like the one way traffic in the Lionesses game the other night. 

Edited February 24, 2023 by Merrick's Marvels

[David Brent]

5 minutes ago, mozo said:

And the winner of the 'most obvious dad joke that has already been made seventeen times' goes to... 

Not for me…I hadn’t seen it